Four Derby winners in Caribbean Champion Stakes

The race, to be run over 1800 metrs at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on November 26 has attrqacted this year’s Derby winner Academy Award, winner of the 2014 running of the blue riband event Momentum, 2013 winner Bigman In Town and the 2012 champion Free Passage.

It will be the first race for Bigman In Town who will be returning from injury, while Headline News will be facing the starter for only the second time after he too is recovering from injury.

Included in the field will be this year’s Derby runner-up King Arthur, fourth Black Onyx, pre-race favourite and disappointing Crown The King who was fifth War Brigade seventh and Magical Victory who was 10th in the 14-runner field.

When third nominations were taken for the race, connections paid up for 12 horses, with both Dark Treasure and Wall Street being withdrawn.

A total of $12,600 have been collected in nomination fees to date. And a final fee of $600 becomes due and payable at the time of entry.

Meanwhile, trainer Bobby Persad felt the wrath of the Arima Race Club stewards on Saturday last.

He was fined a total of $700. The ARC hit Persad with a $500 fine for not producing Eagle Landing for Lasix, $50 each for the late arrival of War Council, Indian Medicine, Sweet Genius and She Is A Princess into the parade ring.

Eight jockeys were also fined $50 each for their late arrival into the parade ring - Brian Boodramsingh, Romario Hernandez, Jovika Boodramsingh, Dillon Khelawan, Naim Samaroo, and apprentices Ridge Balgobin, Tristan Phillip and Lenny A Seecharan Here are the horses for which nomination fees were paid for the Caribbean Champion Stakes:

C A R I B B E A N CHAMPION ST A KES (GRADE 1) W.I. BRED HORS ES 3 Y.O. AND OVER - 1800 METRES

A C A D E M Y AWARD; BIGMAN IN TO WN; BLACK ONYX; CRAMERS RULE; CRO WN THE KING; FREE PASSAGE; HEADLINE NEWS; KING ARTHUR; MAGICAL VICTOR Y; MAN TO COME MOMENTUM; WAR BRIGADE.